#5 Live Your best Life Optimal Health Tips checklist for Over 50 Women

For us women, turning 50 is huge! Society

tells you that you are middle-aged, and your body feels it - Ouch!

We suffer the pains of childbirth but feel joy when welcoming our baby into the world. We suffer again and feel lost when the kids leave home, our parents are ageing, or retirement is looming ahead. There may be marriage problems or job challenges. Plunging into middle age is a stressful time. I like to call our middle years ‘the second half of life’; it seems kinder and a little more to the point.

The Body Knows

I don’t know about you, but I have found that my body isn’t as resilient as it used to be. I can’t expect as much from it or neglect my body as I did when I was younger. Turning 50 is when we need to take stock of our lifestyle habits seriously and make any needed changes.

I have found that for many women over 50, it’s also a time of self-reflection, where we rethink our purpose in life. So your 50th birthday is an opportunity to rethink our values and find what makes us happy and fulfilled. After all, massive changes are going on, and You may be ready for something new.

Your Mindfulness To-do List:

1. Get lots of sleep. Maybe you got along with four hours a night when you were 40, but your body can’t take that abuse when you’re older. For your body to be physically renewed and your mind rested, you need at least 6-7 hours of undisturbed sleep each night. (a future article will give you some tips on how you can get your zzzz).

2. Set aside quiet time every morning. If you don’t ruin your day, your day will run you. Be mindful. Focus on the now. You could do this by planning your day, meditating, praying, whatever you find helpful, to live in the moment. Focus and visualize your day. Read something that inspires you. Focus on self-renewal for at least 20mins daily.

3. Be optimistic. Don’t sweat the small stuff! Slow down, take time to understand what you want out of your day. Find focus, purpose and meaning, then spread the joy to others.

4. Get regular health checks. Lots of different medical screenings begin at 50. Do your research, find out what is available to you in your area. You owe it to yourself to have a reharl MOT. It would help if you had your blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and thyroid tested. Also, talk to your doctor about any symptoms of depression, which you may be experiencing depression, insomnia or anxiety is common for women over 50 – so don’t be shy.

5. Review your diet. Talk to your health care provider about calcium and vitamin D. Get at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily; your bones will thank you. Be mindful to eat colourful foods. It’s essential for women over 50 to get plenty of fruits and vegetables and to eat more good fats to get heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids - like fish. Learn to love whole grains, lentils, and skinless lean protein. Or go Keto- I have found this works wonders for me. Treat yourself to sweets, but only occasionally. When you use oils, lean toward the good ones, like extra-virgin olive oil. Avoid trans-fats.

6. Visit the Dentist regularly. Those pearly whites won’t stay healthy all by themselves, you know.

7. Get plenty of aerobic exercises. Walking, bike riding or an exercise class will build strong bones and lifts your mood. It also reduces heart disease risk, which is the No. 1 killer of women.

8. Go on, have some fun- Laugh out loud! Do whatever makes you happy and relaxed.

9. Drink sensibly. Learn what is moderate for your age and size and stick to it.

10. Find a creative outlet. Take time out from the TV and take up a hobby. Hobbies help to prevent a low mood which can affect your memory. Having a creative outlet helps stimulate your mind.

11. Make your home your sanctuary. Eliminate clutter. Fill your home with great music, low lights, books, and friends. Withdraw and recharge when you need to.

12. Associate with positive-focused people. Have you ever felt worn out after chatting to someone? If you have, the chances are that the conversation was negative in nature. Negative people will drain your emotions dry. Another downside to this is that you may eventually become as negative as they are. Positive people will not drain your valuable energy with whines, whinges or dead-end scenarios. Instead, they will help you pursue the best that life has to offer because they are doing exactly that for themselves.

Living in the second half of life mindfully is rewarding and the most productive part of your life.

Thank you for visiting me here and being part of the community If this post was helpful to you, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me if you need support or share any thoughts you may have. I look forward to your next visit here and remember.

Your Best Life is Yet to Come!